Strand winding machine lubricating device



NOV. 12, 1968 w 5 ET AL STRAND WINDING MACHINE LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed April 10, 1967 W a g 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WILLIAM F. isszu. & JAMES E. GRANT ATTORNE S.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. F. ISBELL ET AL STRAND WINDING MACHINE LUBRICATING DEVICE Nov. 12, 1968 Filed Ap INVENTORS.

WILLIAM F. ISBELL 8 JAMES E. GRANT 6 9 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,410,495 STRAND WINDING MACHINE LUBRICATING DEVICE William F. Isbell, 313 Lyonswood Drive, Anderson, S.C. 29621, and James E. Grant, Rte. 1, Townville, SC. 29689 Filed Apr. 10, 1967, Set. No. 629,682 4 Claims. Cl. 242-27) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE An automatic bobbin winding machine having an enclosed casing containing a clutch and other working mechanisms with means for transferring a lubricant from the bottom of the casing to the clutch, and other mechanisms, the clutch having passageways for conveying the transferred lubricant to the interior of the clutch.

This invention relates to automatic bobbin winding machines, and more particularly to a device for providing reliable strand delivery characteristics through improved lubrication of the clutch mechanism, as well as other working mechanism located within the enclosed casing or housing of the Winding machine.

Heretofore, in automatic bobbin winding machines, such as illustrated in Patent No. 2,763,443, granted to Goodhue et al. on September 18, 1956, and in similar winding machines, such as manufactured by Leesona Corporation of Providence, Rhode Island, generally referred to as the 'Unifil Loom Winder, one of such models being identified as Model No. 791, there has been a problem of excessive yarn build-up resulting from freezing of the mechanism which normally discontinues winding upon proper yarn build-up on the bobbin. When this occurs the traverse mechanism and associated parts often become damaged. Inordinately excessive down-time and labor cost result in addition to parts and materials damage. Many attempts have been made to solve this problem through lubrication of the working parts. However, none of them have proved to be satisfactory. In particular, the clutch mechanism which couples a drive spindle with the winding spindle has been overheating and destroying the working mechanism within the clutch assembly. In one attempt to lubricate the interior of the clutch assembly, which is carried on the spindles, an axial bore extended through a major portion of the winding spindle and had an opening adjacent one end thereof for receiving drops of oil. The oil had to work down the bore in order to lubricate the interior of the clutch mechanism. Such has not proven to be an adaquate method for lubricating the clutch assembly, and frequently the clutch assembly was destroyed due to overheating. As the clutch assembly wore due to inadaquate lubrication longitudinal play was developed in the winding spindle causing the bobbins which were being wound between the end of the winding spindle and a joumaled standard to fit loosely therebetween. Such play had to be removed by adjustments in order to provide a proper winding operation.

It was also noted in winders which were not properly lubricated that the motor used for driving the winder overheated. Such, in turn, shortened the life of the winder motor.

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is to provide a simple and effective lubricating device for loom winders.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a lubricating system for loom winders wherein the interior of the clutch mechanism associated therewith is effectively lubricated.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a lubricating system for a loom winder which utilizes only a small reservoir of oil and creates a fine mist within the winders housing to lubricate all the parts therein.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a means for transferring oil from the bottom of a loom winding housing to a vertically spaced oil pan which, in turn, supplies oil to a rotating clutch mechanism for dispersing the oil throughout the entire winding housing.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understoood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the winder with the cover removed from the casing and showing a portion of the driving means for the winding elements.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1 showing the clutch assembly and the lubricating mechanism therefor,

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the lower section of the casing showing a portion of the driving means and the clutch assembly for the winding elements, and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 showing the driving means for the winding spindle, the cam for traversing the yarn guide, and the clutch for controlling the drive for these elements.

The drawings illustrate a strand winding machine having a portion of the working mechanism enclosed in a casing A in which oil is carried at a predetermined level in the bottom portion for providing a lubricant for the working mechanism. A rotary winding spindle B is journaled in one end of the casing A and is provided for rotating a bobbin and the like when such is in turn rotated. The rotary winding spindle B is journaled to adapt such to slide longitudinally.

A drive spindle C is journaled in said casing in alignment with said rotary winding spindle B. A motor (not shown) is coupled to the drive spindle C for rotating such.

A clutch mechanism D is carried on the drive spindle C and the winding spindle B for providing engagement between the drive spindle and the winding spindle when the winding spindle is shifted longitudinally to initiate a strand winding operation. The clutch mechanism D has a male housing fixed on one of the spindles and a female housing fixed on the other spindle.

An oil pan E is carried in the casing A above the oil level in the bottom of the casing. Means F is provided for transferring oil from the bottom of the casing A to the oil pan E. The oil pan E is positioned adjacent the clutch housing D for partially emersing the clutch in the oil carried in the pan. The rotating clutch engages the oil in the pan E and breaks up the oil into fine particles so as to create a fine mist in the casing A for lubricating the working mechanisms.

Passageways G extend into said clutch housing for conveying oil from the oil pan E into the clutch housing for lubricatingthe interior of the clutch. Thus, when the clutch is rotating with the drive spindle C such is lubricated and the other working mechanisms in the casing A are also lubricated.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, a major portion of the working mechanism for the winder is carried within a box-like casing A having a bottom portion formed of a pair of side walls 5 and 6, respectively, being joined by vertical end walls 7 and 8, and :a bottom 9. The bottom of the casing is inclined downwardly from the side wall 7 to the side wall 8 for permitting oil 10 to collect adjacent the right-hand end of the casing. A cover 11 is mounted on the bottom portion for providing an enclosed casing.

Only a portion of the working mechanism carried within the casing A is illustrated, and a more detailed disclosure of the working mechanism is illustrated in the previously mentioned patent and Unifil Loom Winder. The rotary winding spindle B is journaled in the end wall 8 of the casing, and is provided for rotating a bobbin 12. The winding spindle B is journaled in the bearing 13 so that such can rotate freely. The bearing 13 is carried within a front bearing sleeve assembly 14. The sleeve assembly 14 is, in turn, carried within the end wall 8 in a fixed relation. An 0 ring 14a is carried adjacent the front bearing sleeve assembly 14 for sealing the opening in the end wall 8. A concave disc member 15 is carried on the end of the rotary winding spindle B for rotating therewith, and receiving the butt end of the bobbin 12. The small end 17 of the bobbin barrel is carried Within a bearing 18 so that the bobbin rotates with the winding spindle B in order to accomplish the winding operation.

A drive spindle C is journaled on a ball bearing 19 within the end wall 7 of the casing A in alignment with the rotary winding spindle B. The drive spindle C is also journaled within a laterally spaced upright or stanchion 20.

The drive spindle C is rotated by an electric motor (not shown) which is coupled by a belt to a driving pulley 21 carried on the end of the drive spindle C outside the casing A. A nut 22 holds the driving pulley 21 on the driving spindle C. A flanged disc 23 supports the ball bearings 19 within the end wall 7.

A clutch mechanism D is carried on the drive spindle C and the winding spindle B to provide engagement between the drive spindle and the winding spindle when the winding spindle is shifted longitudinally to initiate a strand winding operation. The winding spindle B is shifted to the left when the bobbin is inserted between the concave disc member 15 and the bearing 18. It is noted that the concave disc member 15 can move longitudinally within the front bearing sleeve assembly 14. The clutch mechanism D has a female housing 24 fixed by means of a pin 25 to the drive spindle C and a male housing 26 fixed on the winding spindle B by means of a setscrew 27 and key 27a.

Mounted within the interior of the flange portion of the female clutch housing 24 is a ball bearing 28 which serves as the journal for a bearing member 29 on the end of the winding shaft B. It is to be noted that when the clutch assembly is not in engagement and the female clutch housing 24 is rotating the bearing member 29 does not rotate therewith, since such is isolated therefrom by the ball bearing 28. The male clutch housing 26 has an inclined outer-surface upon which a coating of plastic material 30 is carried for preventing a metal to metal contact when the clutch is in engagement, as shown in FIGURE 4, with a complementary inner-surface of the female housing 24. A clutch spring 31 is carried between the bearing member 29 in a recessed groove 32 in the male housing 24. The clutch spring 31 shifts the female housing 24 to the right when a bobbin is not being wound to disengage the clutch mechanism. A pair of aligning rods are carried by the bearing member 29 and extend into openings within the male housing 26 to guide such when the winding spindle B is shifted longitudinally. A spindle worm 34 is carried adjacent the male clutch housing and is keyed to the winding spindle for rotating therewith.

An oil pan E is carried in the casing A above the level of the oil 10 in the bottom of the casing. The oil pan has a pair of vertical side walls 35 and 36, respectively, being joined by a pair of vertical end walls 37 and 38, and a bottom 39 for retaining the oil therein. The side wall 35 has a recessed portion 40 at one end for allowing oil to be transferred into the pan. The oil pan E is secured to the side wall 6 of the casing by means of bolts 41 extending through the end wall 38. The oil pan is inclined downwardly at an angle for maintaining the oil level in the end of the pan directly below the clutch mechanism D deeper than the level at the other end. The clutch mechanism D is partially emersed in the oil 42 carried in the pan E.

Passageways G are provided in the clutch housing 24 for conveying oil from the oil pan E into the interior of the clutch for lubricating such. A row of passageways 42a are circumferentially spaced around the housing 24 and extend inwardly towards the interior of the clutch at an angle relative to the axis of rotation of the clutch so as to direct the oil into the clutch. Due to the angle of the passageways 42a when they strike the oil such is forced through the passageways into the interior of the clutch lubricating the mechanism carried therein. A second row of circumferentially spaced passageways 42b extend directly into the clutch housing.

Means F is provided for transferring oil from the bottom of the casing A to the oil pan E. Such means includes a gear 43 which is partially emersed in th oil 10 in the bottom of the casing A. When the clutch is in engagement the gear 43 rotates in a clockwise direction and lifts the oil from the bottom of the casing and allows such to fall off due to centrifugal force over the recessed portion 40 into the oil pan E.

T h transfer operation of the bobbin 12 is controlled by mechanism, which is generally referred to as a spider, which is carried in an upper portion of the casing. Such mechanism is not shown in the enclosed drawings, however, it is described in detail in the above-mentioned patent. The spider is driven by the drive spindle C by means of a worm gear 44- which is fixed to the drive shaft C. A drive shaft worm gear assembly 45 is in meshed relation with the worm 44 and rotates therewith to control the operation of the spider. The worm gear assembly 45 is provided with a slip mechanism to protect the spider from being damaged if the drive spindle C is rotated in the wrong direction.

The gear 43, which lifts the oil from the bottom of the casing into the oil pan E, is rotated by the spindle worm 34. The spindle worm 34 is in meshed relation with a pinion gear 46 which is fixed to shaft 47 upon which gear 43 is carried. A change gear 48 is carried above the gear 43 in meshed relation for rotating when the clutch assembly is engaged. The change gear 48 is carried on shaft 49 which is journaled in a vertical plate 50. A smaller pinion gear 52 is also carried on the shaft 49, and is in meshed relation with a traverse cam drive gear 53. The traverse cam drive gear 53 is fixed to shaft 54 for rotating a helical gear 55 carried on the winding spindle B by means of a pinion gear 56 carried on the inner end of shaft 54. The helical gear 55 is attached by a screw 57 to a traverse cam assembly 58. It is noted that the helical gear 55 and the traverse cam assembly 58 are carried on hearing 13 and rotate at a slower speed than the winding spindle B. The traverse cam assembly 58 controls the stroke of the winding operation taking place on the bobbin 12. A traverse rod 60 which carries a yarn guide (not shown) at itsouter end is longitudinally reciprocated by the traverse cam 58, when such is rotated, by means of a stud 61 which engages a helical groove 62 on the traverse cam 53. The traverse rod 60 is journaled within the bracket 63 for allowing such to move freely in a longitudinal direction. Th thread guide (not shown) is carried on the traverse rod 60 for guiding the thread onto the bobbin during a winding operation.

Heretofore, one attempt to oil the clutch mechanism incorporated a wire 64 from which oil dripped to fail on the winding spindle B. A passageway 65 was provided in the front bearing sleeve 14 allowing the oil to flow through a hole 65a in the bearing 13. A helical groove 65b extends from the hol 65a along the inner-surface of bearing 13 for feeding the oil to the hole 66 extending into the interior of the winding spindle B. A longitudinal bore 66a extends through the winding spindle B and receives the oil coming in through hole 66. The oil then works its way through the bore 66a in the winding spindle and exits at the ports 67 and 67a for lubricating the bearings carried on the winding spindle. The oil is also supposed to flow out the end of the winding spindle into the clutch assembly. This method has not proven to be effective, and as a result, the clutch assembly is frequently burned out from overheating. In order to repair the clutch assembly the entire winder had to be disassembled and a new clutch placed on the drive and winding spindles B and C, respectively. Such is both time consuming and costly.

In operation, when the clutch is in engagement, as shown in the drawings, the gear 43 of the gear train is rotating in a clockwise direction and picks up the oil from the bottom of the casing A. The gear 43 lifts the oil over the recessed portion 40 of the oil pan and allows such to fall off into the oil pan. The clutch is rotating in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, and the inclined passageways G strike the oil in the bottom of the oil pan E forcing the oil into the interior of the clutch mechanism for lubricating such. The passageways G also break up the oil into fine particles so as to create a fine mist in the casing for lubricating the working mechanisms carried therein. As a result of the effective lubrication, the working mechanism runs much cooler and the motor which is utilized for driving the winder runs much cooler as a result of the lighter load.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a strand winding machine having a portion of the working mechanism enclosed in a casing in which oil is carried at a predetermined level in a bottom portion for providing a lubricant for said working mechanism, a rotary winding spindle journaled in one end of said casing provided for rotating a bobbin and the like when such is in turn rotated, said rotary winding spindle being journaled to adapt such to slide longitudinally, a drive spindle journaled in said casing in alignment with said rotary winding spindle, means for rotating said drive spindle, a clutch mechanism carried on said drive spindle and said winding spindle for providing engagement between said drive spindle and said winding spindle when said winding spindle is shifted longitudinally to initiate a strand winding operation, said clutch mechanism having a male housing fixed on one of said spindles and a female housing fixed on the other spindle, the improvement comprising, an oil pan carried in said casing above the oil level in the bottom of said casing, means for transferring oil from the bottom of said casing to said oil pan, said oil pan being positioned adjacent said clutch housing for partially emersing said clutch in said oil carried in said pan for engaging the oil in said pan and breaking up said oil into fine particles so as to create a fine mist in said casing for lubricating said working mechanism, and

means in said clutch conveying oil from said oil pan into said clutch for lubricating the interior of said clutch, whereby when said clutch is rotating with said drive spindle such is lubricated and the other working mechanism in said casing are also lubricated.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for transferring oil from the bottom of said casing to said oil pan includes, a rotating member being partially emersed in said oil in the bottom of said casing, said rotating member being positioned adjacent said oil pan for lifting the oil from the bottom of said casing and allowing such to fall off into said oil pan.

3. The device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said oil pan has a pair of side walls being joined by a pair of end walls and a bottom for retaining said oil therein, one of said side walls having a recessed portion at one end for allowing oil to be transferred from said rotating member into said pan, said oil pan being inclined downrwardly at an angle for maintaining the oil level in said pan at the other end deeper than the level at said one end, said rotating member being a gear of a gear train which rotates when said clutch is in engagement, and said means in said clutch conveying oil comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced passageways extending into the interior of said clutch at an angle relative to the axis of rotation of said clutch for directing said oil into said clutch.

4. In a strand winding machine having a portion of the working mechanism enclosed in a casing in which oil is carried at a predetermined level in a bottom portion for providing a lubricant for said working mechanism, a rotary Winding spindle journaled in one end of said casing provided for rotating a bobbin and the like when such is in turn rotated, said rotary winding spindle being journaled to adapt such to slide longitudinally, a drive spindle journaled in said casing in alignment with said rotary winding spindle, means for rotating said drive spindle, a clutch carried on said drive spindle and said winding spindle for providing engagement between said drive spindle and said winding spindle when said winding spindle is shifted longitudinally to initiate a strand winding operation, said clutch having a male housing fixed on one of said spindles and a female housing fixed on the other spindle, the improvement comprising, means for transferring oil from the bottom of said casing upwardly for depositing said oil on said clutch, a plurality of circumferentially spaced passageways provided in at least one of said clutch housings for engaging the oil and breaking up said oil into fine particles so as to create a fine mist in said casing for lubricating said working mechanism, and said pasageways extending into the interior of said clutch at an angle relative to the axis of rotation of said clutch conveying oil into said clutch housings for lubricating the interior of said clutch, whereby when said clutch is rotating with said spindles such is lubricated and the other working mechanism in said casing are also lubricated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,744,060 1/ 1930 Sipp 242--27 1,886,598 11/1932 SchWeiter 24218 2,369,606 2/1945 Reiners et al. 24232 2,763,443 9/1956 Goodhue et al. 242-27 STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner. 

